AFI has released eleven studio albums, ten EPs, one live album and one DVD. The band first reached substantial commercial success with their fifth album, The Art of Drowning (2000), which peaked at number 174 on the Billboard 200. They then broke into the mainstream with their sixth, Sing the Sorrow (2003), which peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 51 weeks. The album was supported by popular singles "Girl's Not Grey" and "Silver and Cold", both of which peaked at number seven on America's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2003. "The Leaving Song Pt. II" was also released as a single, reaching number 16 on the chart. Sing the Sorrow was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2006 and is AFI's best-selling release, having sold over 1.26 million copies as of September 2009.
AFI's seventh album, Decemberunderground (2006), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit single "Miss Murder", which topped the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Love Like Winter", reached number four on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2013.[6] Decemberunderground was followed three years later by Crash Love (2009), and then four years later by Burials (2013); both albums were also successful, peaking at number twelve and number nine, respectively, on the Billboard 200. The band's tenth and latest album, AFI (The Blood Album), was released in 2017, and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200, making it their second-highest chart position.
Chicken Song
AFI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chicken's good for the mind
Chicken's good for the funny bone
Chicken's easy on the eyes
(Ahh, here we go now)
Yum, yum chicken bone
Yum, yum chicken bone
Tell all your friends
Yum, yum chicken bone
Bock, bock chicken
Yum, yum chicken bone
Tell all your friends
Granola bar, nice n' chewy
Granola bar, my best friend
Granola bar, how I love you
Granola bars don't beat the kids
Yum, yum granola bar
Chew, chew, chewy
Yum, yum granola bar
Tell all your friends
Yum, yum granola bar
Chew, chew, chewy
Yum, yum granola bar
Tell all your friends
Chicken and granola bars
Make a nice meal
'Specially when you're all alone
It's something to eat when
Your wife's in the shelter
Because she ran into the door
One, two, three, four
Yum, yum granola bone
Bock, bock chewy
Yum, yum granola bone
Tell all your friends
Yum, yum granola bone
Bock, bock chewy
Yum, yum granola bone
Tell all your friends
Yum, yum, yummy
Bock, bock, bocky
Slap, slap, slappy
Tell all your friends
Yum, yum, yummy
Bock, bock, bocky
Slap, slap, slappy
Tell all your friends (Friends)
The lyrics to the song "Chicken Song" by AFI may seem nonsensical and random, but upon closer examination, they hold a deeper meaning. The first four lines appear to be a simple ode to the nutritional benefits of chicken, but upon reflection, they could also be interpreted as a commentary on conformity and following what is considered "good" or "normal" for the body, mind, and funny bone. Additionally, the mention of chicken being "easy on the eyes" could be interpreted as a societal pressure to conform to certain physical standards.
The next verse switches to a completely different topic with the mention of granola bars. The juxtaposition of the two topics could potentially be a commentary on consumerism and the obsession with food trends and health fads. The lines about granola bars not beating kids could also be a commentary on the contrast between wholesome, healthy food and violent, aggressive behavior.
Finally, the last verse includes a surprising twist with the mention of a wife being in a shelter after running into a door. This could be interpreted as a commentary on domestic violence and the societal pressure for women to stay in abusive situations. The mention of chicken and granola bars making a nice meal could also be a commentary on the absurdity of trying to find comfort or happiness in material possessions or superficial things like food.
Overall, "Chicken Song" by AFI appears to be a satirical commentary on societal pressures and consumerism, with a focus on food trends and domestic violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Chicken's good for the body
Eating chicken is physically beneficial
Chicken's good for the mind
Eating chicken is mentally beneficial
Chicken's good for the funny bone
Eating chicken provides amusement
Chicken's easy on the eyes
Cooked chicken is visually pleasing
Yum, yum chicken bone
Expressing enjoyment of eating chicken bones
Bock, bock chicken
Imitating chicken noises
Tell all your friends
Encouraging others to also enjoy chicken
Granola bar, nice n' chewy
Describing the texture of granola bars
Granola bar, my best friend
Expressing fondness for granola bars
Granola bar, how I love you
Continued expression of affection for granola bars
Granola bars don't beat the kids
Humorous statement implying that granola bars are a harmless snack option
Yum, yum granola bar
Expressing enjoyment of eating granola bars
Chew, chew, chewy
Onomatopoeic description of the texture of granola bars
Chicken and granola bars
Suggesting the combination of two food items for a meal
Make a nice meal
Implying that the combination of chicken and granola bars can be satisfying
'Specially when you're all alone
Suggesting that eating can be a comfort when one is lonely
It's something to eat when
Continuation of the previous line's implication
Your wife's in the shelter
Suggesting a situation where one is alone and their partner is absent
Because she ran into the door
A humorous explanation for the fictional absence of a partner
One, two, three, four
Counting off for a rhythmic effect
Yum, yum granola bone
Confusing the term for a granola bar with a chicken bone
Slap, slap, slappy
Onomatopoeic expression of clapping or slapping hands together
Yum, yum, yummy
Continuing to express enjoyment of food
Bock, bock, bocky
More imitation of chicken noises
Tell all your friends (Friends)
Encouraging others to also enjoy food and socialize with friends
Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@KingDaveth
"It's something to eat when
Your wife's in the shelter
Because she ran into the dooooooooooor"
omg
@justinwest5197
Gives me such a Velvet Underground vibe. So sick!!